Manhunt, arrests follow Phila meth blast at vacant house

Police Detective Capt. Shawn Nelson said the search for and apprehension of two suspects following a suspected meth explosion and ensuing fire that damaged a house at 1237 Independence Circle SE on Tuesday was “a huge unified effort” by various law-enforcement agencies in extremely cold, windy conditions.

Police Detective Capt. Shawn Nelson said the search for and apprehension of two suspects following a fire that damaged a house at 1237 Independence Circle SE on Tuesday was "a huge unified effort" by various law-enforcement agencies in extremely cold, windy conditions.

Suspects Shaun Michael Pfister, 34, whose address is listed as homeless, and Theresa Keener, 35, of Haydenville, Ohio, were being held in the Tuscarawas County Jail on Tuesday night, pending the filing of formal charges today.

Both were taken to the police station following their apprehensions, and about 20 minutes into their interviews, police learned that the cause of the fire was an explosion of chemicals used in the making of methamphetamines in a hall closet on the second floor, Nelson said.

The fire, reported at 2:25 p.m., was in the unoccupied former residence of the late attorney James Barnhouse.

Fire Chief Jim Parrish said the fire was reported by neighbors who saw smoke coming out of the house, and two people running away.

Nelson said Police K-9 Officer Mike Pierce and the department's dog, Pete, began tracking the pair using tracks in the snow and scent.

In their police cruisers, Nelson and Detective Chaz Willett used the directions provided by Pierce and witnesses to establish a perimeter on Goshen Valley Road. A short time later, they saw Pfister running on Goshen Hill Road, just outside of the corporation.

"He was knocking on the door of the first house on that road, trying to find a place to hide," Nelson said, adding that they found Keener on the back porch of an abandoned house on the opposite side of the road.

At the fire scene, Parrish initially said that the fire, which originated on the second floor of the two-story structure, "appears to be an intentionally set fire at this time; however, we're still investigating."

Later, Nelson said authorities learned from the two suspects that they had "been doing a shake and bake-type meth lab," and were cleaning up the materials at the time of the fire. He noted that the components used in making methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, if not properly stored can be very combustible.

"It sounds like they had mishandled or disregarded" the volatility of the products, Nelson said. He noted that authorities later found other evidence that previous meth-lab cooking had been conducted in the house.

Nelson said Pfister is believed to have been staying in the house on Independence Circle SE for about a week. The detective added that he "had no authority from anyone to let him reside there."

Nelson said Keener has been staying in the Friends of the Homeless Shelter on E. High Avenue, where Pfister had temporarily stayed under a false name.

Once police learned the actual cause of the fire, Nelson said Parrish was notified at the scene "and took appropriate action." That included Detective Joe Mullet of the Holmes County Sheriff's Office, who is considered to be the area's leading expert regarding meth lab operations, and is certified in their dismantling and removal, and an investigator for the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Page 2 of 2 - Parrish said firefighters brought the fire under control and extinguished it within about 20 minutes of their arrival. He said the first floor remained in "pretty good shape," with just smoke damage.

Fire damage was limited to the second floor and attic space. No damage estimate was available.

Firefighters were assisted by the Dover Fire Department and Smith Ambulance Service personnel.

Nelson said investigation is continuing, as officers have "learned that Pfister and Keener have been committing other crimes in the area."